The Morning Leverage: Propel Builds Up Portfolio With Construction Toys

Propel Equity Partners is adding to its toy chest again. Amy Or reports that the consumer-focused private equity firm has acquired construction toy brand ZOOB from Infinitoy. The pieces provided by ZOOB actually move after they’re snapped together, which could make for a more impressive “Breaking Bad” meth lab than this Lego-esque one.

Advent International and two Asian investors are filtering some new capital to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in a bet on Asia’s growing coffee consumption. Ms. Or reports that Advent partnered with CDIB Capital and Mirae Asset Private Equity to invest in the coffee chain, which has a substantial presence in Singapore, Malaysia and Korea, but lower penetration in China and no representation at all in Japan (subscription required).

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